Filter recipe results with Google search tools

Editors' Note, June 30, 2015: Google has made changes to their search engine and the filters mentioned in this post are currently unavailable.

When looking for a specific recipe, it's likely that you'll find many with ingredients you don't have, or worse, those that you don't want to use. Some of the more elaborately built food websites have a tool that lets you search for recipes, but sometimes that isn't a success either. Instead, why not harness the power of Google Search?

A recent update to Google's search tools lets you narrow down the results for the right recipe. You can specify which ingredients you do and do not want in the recipe, right from the results page. Using the search tool is really simple; here's how:

First, search for the name of the recipe you need. This example will use mashed potatoes.

Click the Search tools button.
Nicole Cozma/CNET

When the search results appear, click the Search tools button under the search box.

Filter by ingredients, cooking time, and calories.
Nicole Cozma/CNET

Now you'll see buttons that let you adjust your results by the ingredients (check list), cook time, and calorie buttons.

What other options would you like to see Google add to the search filters for recipes? Leave your thoughts in the comments.